The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, Abigail Wilson [best value ebook reader .TXT] 📗

and swung it open nonetheless, breathingin the journey I had before me.

The night was warm but eerily still, every sound begging to be heard and contemplated. I stood on the doorstep for severalseconds, scanning the surrounding wilderness. Life had indeed made me cautious, but I wouldn’t let it strangle me, not anymore.

I pulled the door closed behind me and scurried down the path to the stables where I found Jewel waiting for me in her crib,her stoic strength a balm to my pounding reservations. I rushed through the harness room, readied Jewel in relative silence,and led her carefully from her stall.

A mounting block lay near the door and I utilized it to swing into the sidesaddle. I kept her to a walk until we’d departedthe paddocks and crossed the open yard. Loxby Manor and all its questions and fear melted into the darkness behind me.

Centered firmly on the road to Rushridge, I spurred Jewel forward. Her powerful muscles contracted beneath my legs, the suddenand desperate surge of exhilaration rushing over me like the wind. For a breathless second I was free, flying through thetrees.

Jewel’s stride widened as we hit level ground, her gallop strengthening with each powerful step. The sliver of moon proveda poor guide on the open road, and I was forced to trust her instincts.

The minutes passed and the familiar open landscape drifted away. Jewel didn’t slow till the gates of Rushridge materialized in the gloom ahead, the black iron bars glinting in the moonlight. I couldn’t help but stare down at the side of the road where Seline’s body had lain in the shallow grave for weeks. There was little trace of the precious life that had been there, a bit of disturbed earth, nothing more, but I would never forget what had happened there.

Having passed through the gates, I rounded the front drive and scrambled from Jewel’s back at the last second, only to nearlylose my footing as I hit the ground. I looked up at the house, relieved to see a light on in one of the ground-floor rooms.I prayed Hugh and Priscilla were still awake as I looped Jewel’s reins over an iron post.

I mounted the stone steps and descended on the front door of Rushridge, pounding out a knock against the heavy wood.

Silence.

With a tight fist, I tried again, my hand aching with each thrust.

Finally the door cracked open an inch to reveal the beady eyes of the Daunt’s elderly butler.

I stepped into the beam of candlelight extending beyond the door. “I must see Hugh Daunt at once.”

The butler angled his chin, but he must have recognized me from my earlier visit, for he swung the door wide and bade me toenter.

I raced into the open hall, only to catch sight of Priscilla in the drawing room doorway. I breathed out a sigh of relief.“Priscilla.”

Her eyes widened. “Charity, you look a fright. Whatever are you doing here at such an hour?”

It took me a moment to catch my breath. My gown was rumpled from the ride and I tugged it into place. “I must speak with yourbrother. Is he able to see me?”

She stole a peek over her shoulder, then took a breath, lengthy and determined. “He’s in the drawing room, but he’s had adifficult time this afternoon.”

I crossed the carpet to grasp her hand. “I wish I could come another time, but this is urgent.”

Her face fell. “You may find him a bit strained at present.” At length she motioned me to precede her into the drawing room.

Entering as bade, I found Hugh beneath a blanket in a chair near the fire, his gaze fixed on the window. Though I’d racedfrom Loxby as if chased by an animal, all of a sudden everything slowed, my thoughts, my steps. It was as if I approacheda stranger, one I should be afraid of. He wore a grimace, but it wasn’t the disconsolate mood that transformed my own. Itwas his eyes. I could not see Hugh in them. No wonder Priscilla had been worried.

I took a seat at his side. “Oh, Hugh.”

He barely gave me a glance, his words flippant. “You mustn’t worry. Piers is a Cavanagh. He’ll pull though.”

His monotone voice sent a fresh wave of ice into my chest. “Though I’m glad to hear that Piers will recover, I’ve come aboutsomething else entirely. I need to talk to you about the Gormogons.”

His eyes flashed and he coughed as he shifted to face me. Priscilla raced over with a glass of water, casting me a sharp glare.I waited a moment for Hugh to regain his bearings, but I wouldn’t be silenced, not now. “Am I right in guessing that you holdAvery Cavanagh’s loyalty pledge?”

His eyes closed. “Those blasted pledges.” His fingers curled into a fist on the armrest. “What does it matter now? I wantednothing more than to escape the group, to expose the man responsible, but I’ll never be able to get out now. Believe me, Inever joined to become a traitor to my country. What a fool I’ve been—we’ve all been.” His voice grew cold. “We’ve been playedlike a curst stack of cards.”

“Treason?” I touched my throat, shocked at these revelations. “And you made plans to get out of the secret society?”

His fingers came to life on the armrest, pushing and pulling the fabric. “For months now. I’d rather die than directly finance revolutionaries in France.”

My head swam. Wouldn’t Avery feel the same way? “Did any of the members know of your intentions?”

“Avery did, but I swore him to secrecy.” Hugh lowered his head into his hands. “I was waiting for the payout from the curriclerace to finally make my exit. I had it all arranged. My loyalty pledge involved the state of my affairs. If I could have overcomethat hurdle, I might have come about.”

I sat very still. The motive for murder I’d been looking for was now abundantly clear. When the person killed Seline by mistake,his intention must have been to silence Hugh.

“Can you tell me again everything that happened